Bombshell: A BWWM Billionaire Amnesia Romance Suspense Novel (14 page)

“Well, keep me posted,” Agent Carson said.

“That’s why I called.”

“Is there something else?”

“Yes, I know her real name. Just got a
missing person
’s flyer – with her picture on it, can I text it to you?”

“Please do,” Agent Carson said. “And thanks for your cooperation.”

She hung up and Merrick wondered how Dr. Garcia would suggest they handle telling Bombshell the news that he’d been lying to her all along and that her name wasn’t Mona Lisa Van Dyke.

When he returned to the sixth floor, Doctor Garcia was waiting for him.

“They want to release her,” she said.

“Already?”

“Yes, and she’s very excited about going back to the hotel and spending more time with her fiancé.”  Doctor Garcia’s lifted an eye brow, clearly curious about his reaction.

Merrick sighed and pulled out his phone. “I need to show you something,” he said and opened the image of the flyer and handed his phone to the doctor.

The doctor spent several minutes reading the flyer.

“Look, I’d like to go back to the hotel and get some sleep and then I’d like to gamble and have some R&R. Let’s stick to the current script for now and tomorrow, I’ll have a plan for how best to break it to her.”

“When, doctor – because, the FBI wants to question her sometime after two o’clock, tomorrow and they’ve seen that flyer – so they’re going to tell her, her real name.”

“Alright, then let’s have you bring her to my room, say ten o’clock tomorrow morning. I’ll have a strategy by then.”

Merrick thanked her, and called Linda to send a car for the doctor as he walked her to the elevator door. “Oh, can you text me that flyer?”

Merrick pulled out his phone and the image went from his phone to her before the elevators closed.

Before Bombshell was released from the hospital, Mama G, Linda and Tony arrived.

“We thought you might like some help getting Bombshell settled,” his mother said.

“Thanks, guys,” Merrick said.

“She’s ready to go now. Who wants her?” said a voice from behind them.

Everyone turned around and saw a nurse pushing Bombshell in a wheelchair. She was dressed in regular clothes and had her purse on her lap. Merrick thought she looked nervous.

“Merrick?” she said uncertainly. “Do you still want me around?”

Merrick ran to her side and took point behind the wheelchair.

“Yes, I’m taking you home.”

They all piled into the elevator, and no one spoke as they descended to the main level. His phone buzzed, and he checked it. The text was from Agent Carson.

Change of plans, on way now to interview Peters.

Merrick cursed under his breath and quickly shut off his phone. “Tony, everyone – something’s come up at the site - can you guys take Bombshell back to the hotel, and get her settled?”

Bombshell looked alarmed, but Merrick squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll be home soon. These guys will take good care of you,” he said motioning to his half-brother, his mother and his cousin.

They all nodded reassuringly.

“But, I don’t want to be alone.”

“No one will leave you alone,” Mama G said. “One of us will be with you until Merrick comes back.”

Merrick watched them drive out of the parking lot, and as soon as they were gone, Agent Carson drove up. His heart raced as he waited to see if he’d noticed their car getting away – but, when Agent Carson stepped out of the car, he relaxed. They clearly had paid no attention to the van full of people leaving the hospital.

Merrick walked over to Agent Carson and said. “What are you doing here? I thought you were flying out of town?”

“Change of plans,” said a man stepping out of the passenger seat of the FBI agent’s car.

Merrick looked at the tall black agent, then back at Agent Carson.

“This is Agent Johnson,” Agent Carson said. “He’s my boss – he saw the flyer and decided he couldn’t wait until tomorrow.”

“Oh, I see,” Merrick said. He glared at the new FBI agent, then spoke to Agent Carson as if the man wasn’t there. “And did you explain to your boss that Ms. Peters doesn’t know who she it? And that she’s just had brain surgery and she was to meet with her psychologist first – before being questioned by anyone?”

Agent Johnson came around from his side of the car. “Mr. Merrick Flynn. Are you trying to obstruct our investigation?”

Merrick didn’t back away. “No. Absolutely not. All I’m trying to do is protect this women from having a serious adverse reaction because you people can’t wait until two o’clock tomorrow, like we agreed.”

Agent Johnson looked at his subordinate. “Did you agree to this?”

“Yeah, well – I mean – you’d asked me to fly out to Misty Falls, so I wasn’t going to be back until tomorrow – and when I was by the hospital, earlier today – I couldn’t question her, because she was still in a coma.”

“A coma?” Agent Johnson worked his mouth, then turned to Merrick.

“Alright. I didn’t realize about the coma. She’s fine now?”

“Yes, but still recovering.”

“Alright. Text Agent Carson where you’ll be tomorrow at two o’clock and make sure you’re shrink sees her beforehand. Any more delays, and I’m going to start wondering if you’ve got something you’re hiding.”

~~*~~

After the FBI left, Merrick thanked God that he’d been able to stop what could have been a disastrous interrogation. He pondered what he should do next. He wanted to be with her, but at the same time, he worried about not being able to keep his mouth shut. He wished he could talk to the psychologist again and come up with a game plan for the next morning. He couldn’t imagine how there was anything the psychologist could say which would keep Bombshell from becoming upset about her real identity and the truth about how they’d met and the bullshit about the engagement.

Rather than get his car from the valet and drive aimlessly, he walked over to a coffee cart and ordered a hammerhead coffee. He needed to think. And he could use some extra energy.

He sat down at a bench near a fountain and took a sip of the espresso. Too hot. He pulled out his cell phone and remembered that he hadn’t called Joann back, as he’d promised.
Shit.
He placed the call, but it got voicemail.

“Joann, this is Merrick, sorry it took so long to call you back. Thanks for sending me the flyer, I appreciate it.”

That responsibility out of the way, his mind wandered back to the situation at hand. How would Bombshell react, after her chat with her psychologist? He slumped forward putting his head in his hands, feeling sick that he would soon be causing her more pain.
She’s going to hate you for lying to her
.

“You still here?” Merrick looked up and saw Doctor Armavir, Bombshell’s surgeon standing in front of him with a Frappuccino in his hand. “I thought we already released you’re girl?

Merrick stood quickly and shook the doctor’s hand. “She just left, I wanted to ask you a question.”

“Alright, but you only get two minutes, then I start charging you.”

Merrick smiled and took a moment to formulate his question.

The surgeon sat down on the bench and sucked some whip cream and said, “Ahh, life’s simple pleasures truly are the best.” He put the lid back on and set his drink down on the ground. He looked at his watch. “Ah, only ninety seconds left…”

Merrick spoke. “I want to understand how delicate she is.”

“That’s more a question for Dr. Garcia, don’t you think?”

“I don’t mean, psychologically, I mean physically.”

The doctor examined Merrick’s expression and he felt himself blushing under the scrutiny.

“You want to know if it’s too soon to have intercourse,” said the doctor.

Merrick’s ears burned. That wasn’t exactly what he’d been thinking, but now that the question had come up, hell yes, he wanted to know.

“Would it hurt her brain if we had sex anytime soon? Could I break something?”

“You have to understand that the procedure we performed on her was about as minor as brain surgery gets—which is why she’s already leaving the hospital in less than twenty-four hours. Honestly, as long as you don’t bang her head against something while you do it, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

“Really?” Merrick couldn’t believe it. He felt like a school kid who’d just been informed that school had been cancelled because the whole class was going to Disneyworld.

“Really - it might even be good for her. Sex helps the body heal, or so some studies have shown. But, I can’t vouch for her emotional and psychological readiness. I suggest you run this question by Doctor Garcia as well. Just to be safe.”

While Merrick waited for his car, he called Doctor Garcia. He felt stupid asking people for permission to have sex, but he didn’t want to take any chances – no matter how badly he wanted to experience her, while she still was under the delusion that she loved him. He got her answering service. She was off duty. Did he want the doctor on call? He said that he didn’t and hung up.

When he got back to the hotel, he walked through the lobby and headed to the casino. Doctor Garcia stood at a craps table. She wore a slinky black dress with a scandalously high slit. She was throwing dice. The whole table erupted in cheers when they cubes stopped rolling. Merrick stood back and waited for her winning streak to end. He motioned to the pit boss to cut her off. She complained until she saw Merrick.

“Are you trying to stop me from taking you to the cleaners?” she asked, eyes glistening with excitement.

“You’re already taking me to the cleaners. I assume you received the twenty large credits?”

“Sure did.”

“Listen, doctor, I need to ask you a question,” he said as he guided her to benches in front of some slot machines.

“I’m off the clock, Merrick,” she said.

“I know, I’m sorry—but this is important.”

“Okay, shoot.”

Suddenly Merrick couldn’t bring himself to say it. It sounded so selfish, to even consider making love to her so soon. He should just man up and keep his hands off of her.

“Well?”

“Oh,” Merrick tried to think of something else that could be important. “I wanted to talk to you about what you’d say to her. Do you want me to be there? What if she reacts badly? The FBI wants her to know who she is before they question her tomorrow.”

Doctor Garcia examined Merrick’s face with curiosity in her gaze. “That wasn’t what you
really
wanted to ask me, now was it?”

Damn it. Is it that obvious?
“I’m not paying you to psychoanalyze me.”

“Let me tell you what I think is really on your mind.”

“Alright.”

“You know that Bombshell is not going to be happy when she learns the truth, no matter how gently or carefully we break it to her. You’re looking for reassurances, guarantees. Well, I can’t offer them.”

Merrick opened and closed his fists, but said nothing.

“The trouble is, she’s too happy with her current life. The trouble is that she’s in love with you.”

Merrick’s heart skipped a beat then a nearby slot machine started ringing and a women started screaming with glee. Someone had just won a jackpot. “What did you say?” He had to shout out the words, as the cacophony of bells and ringing and excitement made normal conversation impossible.

“I said,” the doctor yelled over the din, “I said, she thinks she’s in love with you.”

Merrick couldn’t believe it. “But she’s got amnesia —it doesn’t count.”

“Maybe not, but that’s not how she sees it. I’m afraid, no matter how we tell her tomorrow, it’s going to hurt her, real bad. Which is why I wanted a night to think on this. I’m stumped how best to break it to her.”

A cocktail waitress came by with a tray of rum and cokes. The doctor grabbed one and downed it in three gulps. Merrick declined.

The doctor looked at Merrick. “I’m concerned about her long term mental health. I worry that tomorrow might shock her system. When she finds out that you’re not really her fiancé, I think that’s going to upset her more than anything else.”

Merrick turned away. He didn’t want the doctor to see the pain on his face.

“You know doctor. If I hadn’t received the Missing Person flyer and it the FBI hadn’t shown up – I might have kept this ruse going indefinitely. Hell, I might have even gone down the aisle with her. But, now…”

Merrick faltered. He couldn’t say it.

“But now, what?”

“What if I lose her? I couldn’t bear it.”

“Then do it,” she said.

“Come again?”

“Put a ring on her finger, do it before I meet with her tomorrow. Hell, you should do it tonight. Then when she has to face all this truth business, you can assure her that wanting to marry her wasn’t one of the lies. It might help her through it.”